Self-cooled beverage container



Filed Dec. 2, 1964 YTRNEYS United States Patent O 3,229,478 SELF-CGOLED BEVERAGE CONTAINER Jose Alonso, 23-34 Cambridge Road, Fair Lawn, NJ. Filed Dec. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 415,301 Claims. (Cl. 62-371) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in refrigeration, and more particularly to the refrigeration of a packaged commodity such as beer, soft drinks and the like in cans, bottles and the like.

The invention comprehends a means for cooling a potable liquid in its container, at any time and in any situation, prior to opening such container in the customary way for consumption of the liquid; and this without the use of ice, or refrigeration other than that resulting from a chemical or physical action effected within a compartment contiguous to the container and annexed thereto by the manufacturer or packager of the liquid.

In carrying out the invention, use is made of the wellknown principle that certain substances, liquid or gaseous, on being allowed to expand from a condition of compression, have a refrigerating effect.

In carying out the invention, a liquid container bearing the contents is enclosed in an outer container having readily removable closure means, with the liquid container spaced from the outer container to provide a chamber encircling the liquid container. Inside the outer container, there is a compartment in which is stored a gaseous substance under pressure, said substance being of a nature such that upon expansion it has a refrigerating eiect and preferably one that is non-toxic. The compartment is provided with valve means actuated by the opening of the outer container, whereby, preparatory to opening the outer container to allow opening of the liquid container, an actuation of the valve means by the opening of the outer container will refrigerate the liquid contents by the expansion of said gaseous substance incidental to its issuance from such compartment.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a container having liquid with means for automatically causing rapid cooling of the liquid contents upon outer container being opened.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings and to the appended claims, in which, the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view of the self-cooled beverage package, partially in axial section and partially in side elevation showing a composite container illustrating one possible way of carrying out the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top perspective view of the outer container and the combined sealing and cool starting means therefor.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the top seal taken on the line 3 3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the cool starting seal taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the valve mechanism as viewed on line 5 5 of FIG. l.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a pull tab closure means according to another form of the invention.

Referring now in detail to the various views of the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a composite outer container 10 comprising an outer cylindrical can body 12 closed -at the top end by a dat closure plate 14 and closed at its bottom end by an inwardly curved plate 16.

The outer can body 12 is formed with an internal shal- ICC low compartment 18 at the bottom thereof, the compartment being formed by a cylindrical side wall 20, the top wall 22, the inwardly curved closure plate 16 of the outer body serving as the bottom wall thereof. The bottom end edge of the side wall 20 is formed with a curved periphreal flange 24 curved around and interlocked with the bottom end edge of the body 12. The bottom closure plate 16 of the outer body 12 is formed with a curved peripheral ange 26 seated on the curved ange 24 of the bottom edge of the side wall 20, said curved peripheral iianges 24 and 26 forming a seal with the bottom periphery of the outer body 12. An opening 30 is formed in the top wall 22 of the compartment and mounted in opening 30 there is a two-way valve device 32.

This valve device 32 as shown in FIG. 5 comprises a casing having a hollow cylindrical body 34 with a reduced cylindrical portion 36 at the bottom forming a shoulder 38 and continuing into a tube portion 40 extending into the interior of the compartment 18. The shoulder 38 seats on the top wall 22. The body is open at the top and is closed by a closure plate 42 having a central hole 44 therein. An elongated solid cylindrical movable valve member 46 extends through the center of the body 34 and hole 44 and normally slightly above the closure plate 42. The body of the valve member 46 is formed with a bore 48 extending centrally thereof and intersecting the top end of the body, said top end being formed with an enlarged head portion 50. The bore 48 of this valve member 46 extends downwardly to a point slightly removed from the bottom end of the body Where it is directed laterally forming a side opening 52 in the body of the valve member. The valve member 46 extends through top and bottom rubber or plastic washers S4 and S6, respectively, the side bore opening 52 being normally closed by the bottom washer 56, the valve member 46 being normally held in this position by vacuum in surrounding chamber 76 and against the action of a tension spring 58 in the reduced tube portion 36 of the valve body 34 and iixed at its lower end thereto at 58. When the vacuum is broken in the chamber 76, the valve member 46 will be pulled down by the tension spring 58 to unseat the side opening 52 from the washer 56 thereby allowing the expansion of the refrigerant.

The refrigerant compartment 18 is gastight and within the compartment there is stored under pressure a collection 60 of a gaseous refrigerant substance of the kind which on expansion sets up a refrigerating effect. The outer container or can body 12 being gas tight, said refrigerant substance 60 is retained Without loss and hence without premature expansion until the composite container 10 is in the hands of a purchaser for consumption of the contents of the can 12 and such purchaser desires to cool said contents preparatory to a consumption thereof.

An inner Icontainer 62, containing liquid or other contents 64, such as beer, is provided inside the outer can body 12. The container 62 has a tapered body 66, somewhat of tumbler shape tapering downwardly and inwardly and is closed at its lower end by a bottom wall 68 seated on the top wall 22 of the refrigerant compartment 13.

The top end of the tapered body 66 is open wtih its top rim flange 70 curved around and interlocked with the top end edge of the outer body 12 by the top closure plate 14 of the outer can body 12 formed with a curved peripheral ange 72 seated on the curved top rim ange 70 of the inner container 62, said flanges 70 and 72 forming a seal at the top peripheral edge of the outer can body 12. The bottom wall 68 of the inner container 68 may be integrally formed wit-h the refrigerant compartment 18.

The can body 12 ofthe outercan, the body 66 of the inner container 62 and the top wall 22 of the compartment 18 defines the vacuumized chambers 76 in which is located the refrigerant valve device 32 and which is normally free of air thereby providing a vacuum therein. An air vent hole 73 is formed in the outer can body 12 adjacent the top end thereof for breaking the vacuum and admitting air into the chambers when the contents in the inner container are to be cooled.

For the purpose of consuming the liquid contents 64 of the inner container 62, the top closure plate 14 of the outer can body 12 is formed with a specially shaped discharge opening 80 of substantially T-shape adjacent the periphery thereof. A removable flat T-shape plastic plug cap 82 seals the opening.

An angularly-shaped plastic cap lift and plug opening means 86 is integrallyvconnected to the T-shaped plug cap 82 and has a closure plug formation 8S for the air vent 72. The opening means comprises of L-shaped bar and of plastic, like the cap 82, one leg 90 thereof carrying the pointed laterally-extending plug formation 88 and terminating in a flaring hand .pull end 94 preferably knurled on the outer surface as indicated at 96. The other leg 98 of the lift means terminates in a tapered head portion 100, and integrally secured at 102 to the top `surface of stem portion 104 of the cap 82 by adhesive or the like. The depending leg portion 96 of the lift means serves as a handle for removing the plug 86 and cap 82. The plug formation 88 can be pulled prior to the cap 82 so that the cooling action will have to be started prior to `obtaining the liquid contents 64.

In use, the sealing plug formation 88 is pulled out of the air vent 7S in the outer can 12, permitting air to rush therein breaking the vacuum in the surrounding chamber 76. The in-rushing air of the valve member 46 permits the valve member 46 to be pulled by tension spring 58 inwardly of the valve casing 34 forcing the lateral opening 52 of the valve member below the bottom washer 56 thereby establishing communication with the interior of the tube 40 and compartment 18 whereupon the refrigerating substance 60 escapes through the bore 48 of the valve member 46 into the chambers 76 and out through the air vent 78 to the atmosphere.

When passing through the chambers 76 around the inner can body 62, the contents 64 of the inner can body 62 is refrigerated as a result of the expansion of the gaseous refrigerant 60 in chamber 76 and through the air vent 78. When the expansion of the gaseous substance ends, the sealing cap 82 is lifted out of the opening 80 by the lever device 86 thereby opening the inner can body or container 62.

In FIG. 6, there is illustrated a modified form of sealing cap 82 for the opening 80 in the top closure plate 14. The cap 82 is similar to cap 82 except that a llexible strip 110 forming an inward extension of the stem portion 104 of the cap is provided for lifting the cap oi of the opening in the closure plate 14', instead of the lift means 86.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made wit-hin the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A package for an edible or potable commodity, comprising an outer container closed at the top and bottom, the top of said outer container having means forming an opening therein, a removable cap closing said opening, another container inside the outer container and spaced inwardly thereof, said other container containing a commodity, a compartment inthe bottom of the outer container below the other container, said outer and other containers and compartment deiining a chamber around the other container, said `chamber being maintained under a vacuum, said compartment containing a gaseous substance of a nature such that on expansion it has a refrigerating effect, said compartment having an opening in the top thereof, a vacuum responsive valve device closing said opening for facilitating injection into sai-d chamber of the gaseous substance from the compartment, said outer contain-er having an air vent to open said chamber to the atmosphere whereupon said valve .is actuated to release the substance in the compartment for flowing into the chamber, around the inner container and out through the air vent whereupon the commodity in the other container is refrigerated, a removable plug sealing said air vent, and means in common for removing the plug and for later removing the closure cap.

2. A package for an edible or potable commodity, comprising an outer container closed at the top and bottom, the top of said outer container having means forming an opening therein, a removable ca-p closing said opening, another container inside the outer container and spaced inwardly thereof, said other container containing a commodity, a compartment in the bottom of the outer container below the other container, said outer and other containers and compartment deiining a chamber around the other container, said chamber being maintained under a vacuum, said compartment containing a gaseous substance of a nature such that on expansion it has a refrigerating effect, said compartment having an opening in the top thereof, a vacuum responsive valve device closing said opening for facilitating injection into said chamber of the gaseous substance in the compartment, said outer container having an air vent to open said chamber to the atmosphere whereupon said valve is actuated to release the substance in the compartment for flowing into the chambers, around the inner container and out through the air vent whereupon the commodity in the other container is refrigerated, a removable plug sealing said air vent, and means in common for removing the plug and for later removing the closure cap, said means in common comprising an L-shaped lever device having one leg supporting the plug and having the other leg formed with a head at its end integrally secured to the removable closure cap.

3. A package for an edible or potable commodity, comprising an outer container closed at the top by a closure plate and closed at the bottom by -a curved closure plate, the top of said outer container having means forming an opening therein, adjacent the periphery thereof, a removable cap closing said opening, another container inside the outer container and spaced inwardly thereof, said other container having a `downwardly and inwardly tapering body and being open at the top, said other container containing a commodity, a compartment in the bottom of the outer container below the other container, said outer and other containers and compartment defining a chamber around the other container, said chamber being maintained under a vacuum, said compartment containing a gaseous substance under pressure of a nature such that on expansion it has a refrigerating effect, said compartment having an opening in the top thereof, a vacuum resposive valve device closing said opening for facilitating injection into said chamber of the gaseous substance from the compartment, said valve device having a movable valve member projecting into the chamber in the path of inrushing air, said outer container having an air vent to open said chamber to the atmosphere whereupon said valve member is actuated to release the substance in the compartment for flowing into the charnber, around the other container and out through the a1r vent whereupon the liquid in the other container is refr1gerated, a removable plug sealing said air vent, and means in common for removing the plug and for subsequently removing the closure cap.

4. A package for an edible or potable commodity, comprising an outer container closed at the top by a closure plate and closed at the bottom by a curved closure plate, the top of said outer container having means forming an opening therein, adjacent the periphery thereof, a removable cap closing said opening, another container inside the outer container and spaced inwardly thereof, said other container having a downwardly and inwardly tapering body and being open at the top, said other container containing a commodity, a compartment in the bottom of the outer container below the other container, said outer and other containers and compartment defining chambers around the other container, said chamber being maintained under a vacuum, said compartment containing a gaseous substance under pressure of a nature such that on expansion it has a refrigerating effect, said compartment having an opening in the top thereof, a vacuum resposive valve device closing said opening for facilitating injection into said chamber of the gaseous substance from the compartment, said valve device having a movable valve member projecting into the chamber in the path of inrushing air, said outer container having an air vent to open said chamber to the atmosphere whereupon said valve member is actuated to release the substance in the compartment for owing into the chambers, around the other container and out through the air vent whereupon the liquid in the other container is refrigerated, a removable plug sealing said air vent, and means in common for removing the plug and for subsequently removing the closure cap, said means in common comprising an L-shaped lever device having one leg supporting the plug and having the other leg formed with a head secured at its end to the removable closure cap.

5. A package for an edible or potable commodity, comprising an outer container closed at the top and bottom, the top of said outer container having means forming a substantially T-shaped opening therein, a removable T-shaped ca-p closing said opening, another container inside the outer container and spaced inwardly thereof, said other container having a downwardly and inwardly tapering body and being open at the top, said other container containing a commodity, a compartment in the bottom of the outer container below the other container, said outer and other containers and compartment deiining a chamber around the other container, said compartment containing a gaseous substance, under pressure, of a nature such that on expansion it has a refrigerating effect, said compartment having an opening in the top thereof, a vacuum responsive valve device closing said opening for facilitating injection into said chamber of the gaseous substance in the compartment, said valve device having a movable valve member projecting into the chamber in the path of inrushing air, said outer container having an air vent to open said chamber to the atmosphere whereupon said valve member is actuated to release the substance in the compartment for yflowin g into the chamber, around the other container and out through the air vent whereupon the liquid in the other container is refrigerated, a removable plug sealing said air vent, means for removing said plug, and means for removing said removable cap, said latter means including a exible plastic strip forming an extension of the stem portion of the T-shaped cap.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,003,532 6/1935 Gloor 62-386 X 2,757,517 8/1956 Goldberg 62-457 X 2,773,358 12/1956 Palmer et al 63-457 X MEYER PERLIN, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT A, OLEARY, Examiner. 

1. A PACKAGE FOR AN EDIBLE OR PORTABLE COMMODITY, COMPRISING AN OUTER CONTAINER CLOSED AT THE TOP AND BOTTOM, THE TOP OF SAID OUTER CONTAINER HAVING MEANS FORMING AN OPENING THEREIN, A REMOVABLE CAP CLOSING SAID OPENING, ANOTHER CONTAINER, INSIDE THE OUTER CONTAINER AND SPACED INWARDLY THEREOF, SAID OTHER CONTAINER AND SPACED MODITY, A COMPARTMENT IN THE BOTTOM OF THE OUTER CONTAINER BELOW THE OTHER CONTAINER, SAID OUTER AND OTHER CONTAINERS AND COMPARTMENT DEFINING A CHAMBER AROUND THE OTHER CONTAINER, SAID CHAMBER BEING MAINTAINED UNDER A VACUUM, SAID COMPARTMENT CONTAINING A GASEOUS SUBSTANCE. OF A NATURE SUCH THAT ON EXPANSION IT HAS A REFRIGERATING EFFECT, SAID COMPARTMENT HAVING AN OPENING IN THE TOP THEREOF, A VACUUM RESPONSIVE VALVE DEVICE CLOSING SAID OPENING FOR FACILITATING INJECTION INTO SAID CHAMBER OF THE GASEOUS SUBSTANCE FROM THE COMPARTMENT, SAID OUTER CONTAINER HAVING AN AIR VENT TO OPEN SAID CHAMBER TO THE ATMOSPHERE WHEREUPON SAID VALVE IS ACTUATED TO RELEASE THE SUBSTANCE IN THE COMPARTMENT FOR FLOWING INTO THE CHAMBER, AROUND THE INNER CONTAINER AND OUT THROUGH THE AIR VENT WHEREUPON THE COMMODITY IN THE OTHER CONTAINER IS REFRIGERATED, A REMOVABLE PLUG SEALING SAID AIR VENT, AND MEANS IS COMMON FOR REMOVING THE PLUG AND FOR LATER REMOVING THE CLOSURE CAP. 